Russia’s missile hits Poland as deadly strike kills family in Ukraine

A Russian cruise missile flew deep into NATO territory overnight, crashing in a Polish field, while a mass attack on Ukraine killed a family, officials said. The Kh-101 missile traveled about 95 kilometers into Poland before it fell, marking one of the deepest incursions into NATO airspace since the war began. Polish authorities confirmed the crash but gave no immediate details on damage or casualties. In Ukraine, the same barrage struck a residential area, killing a family. The attack is part of Russia’s ongoing campaign, now in its 1,618th day, targeting civilian infrastructure and homes. The missile’s entry into Poland, a NATO member, raises fresh concerns about the war’s spillover. Under NATO rules, an attack on one member is an attack on all, but Poland has not yet invoked Article 5. Polish military officials said they tracked the missile from its entry into Polish airspace until it hit the ground. They are investigating why it was not intercepted. The overnight strike on Ukraine was one of the largest in recent weeks, with multiple missiles and drones launched across the country. Emergency crews in the affected region reported pulling bodies from the rubble of a collapsed house. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down most of the incoming missiles, but several got through. The family killed in the strike included two adults and a child, according to local officials. The incident in Poland is the second time a Russian missile has crossed into NATO territory during the war. In 2022, a missile killed two people in a Polish village near the Ukrainian border, though Warsaw later said it was likely a Ukrainian air-defense stray. This time, the missile was clearly Russian, Polish officials said. They have demanded an explanation from Moscow, which has not commented. The attack comes as both sides prepare for a prolonged winter campaign. Western allies have pledged more air-defense systems to Ukraine, but deliveries have been slow. For now, the focus is on the ground in Poland, where investigators are combing the crash site for debris. The field is empty, and no one was hurt, but the message is clear: the war is not staying in Ukraine.